2016 Proposed Legislation
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Bill Number Title AUTHORITY OF ACTIVE BISHOPS Submitted by Bishop Paul J. M. Kawimbe Contact [email protected] Page Reference in Current AME Discipline The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2012, Section II. AUTHORITY OF ACTIVE BISHOPS, Page 116 Intent Update text Rationale Update text 1 Current Text 2 The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2012, Section II. AUTHORITY OF ACTIVE 3 BISHOPS, Page 116 4 Amended Text 5 A. Active Bishops 6 4. They must register their credentials with the General Secretary/CIO of the church at least 180 days prior to the 7 opening of the General Conference. Candidates must possess an earned seminary degree from an Association of 8 Theological Schools (ATS) accredited seminary or, if outside of the United States, an accredited seminary or 9 University with a theology faculty as determined by the country in which he or she is educated. Bill Number Title CONNECTIONAL SOCIETIES AND ORGANIZATIONS Submitted by CHARLOTTE MAXEKE LADIES FELLOWSHIP Contact [email protected] Page Reference in Current AME Discipline No reference Intent To establish as a Connectional Organisation, a proven fellowship of women and who live and serve in Africa, to bring that organization into compliance with the structure and governance of the African Methodist church, and to attach said organization to the Commission on Social action. Rationale Among the organizations on the African Continent that provide fellowship opportunities for Christian women, is the Charlotte Maxeke Ladies Fellowship. Although the Book of Discipline of the AME Church has made provision for an organization creating a fellowship of women known as Womens Missionary Society on page 296-352, the AME Church female members of the 15th, 17th, 18th,and 19th Episcopal Districts have for a number of years been operating a similar organization. It is a ministry of women, aimed at conducting studies and recommend resolutions relating to the Christian social concerns which affect the members and neighbours of the church. It also aims to evangelize women for Christian fellowship, outreach and social action. Many of the other denominations in Southern African have their own versions of the organization. This legislation enables the episcopal Districts, Annual Conferences, and Presiding Elder Districts and local congregations to regulate, utilize and expect accountability at each level of governance in the denomination. The Bill also provides for its use outside of the African Continent wherever the African Methodist Episcopal Church has presence through the larger program of Church Growth and Evangelism. 1 Current Text 2 No current text exist 3 Amended Text 4 VISION, MISSION AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CMLF 5 Charlotte Maxeke Ladies Fellowship [CMLF] is a ministry of women in the AME church who wish to fellowship 6 together. It will serve as a social action support and ministry to ladies and women of the church. It is a ministry that 7 ministers to the physical and emotional being of the women. 8 VISION 9 To be a big and ever growing auxiliary of ladies in the African Methodist Episcopal Church that unifies all in the 10 Church through Spiritual Endeavours. 11 MISSION 12 To create a platform to all ladies and women to reach their pathway in unleashing the potential to do Gods work, 13 as well as striving for unity and understanding of one another as children of God flourishing in His Kingdom and 14 their psychosocial needs. 15 To seek to address the needs and concern of the ladies in the local churches who are not members of any womens 16 organization in the church. 17 OBJECTIVES 18 CMLF will recruit Christian women to be advocates for the relevant global religious issues and will also provide 19 support for women. 20 CMLF will give each member an equal opportunity to optimally utilize their good given qualities/skills to contribute 21 to the church and to the welfare of their congregation members, families, neighbours and communities. 22 Support and implement the programmes of the church. 23 Promote a positive team spirit and sisterhood within the church. 24 Do out-reach programmes such as spiritual revivals, seminars and workshops. 25 Maintain and sustain the organization by working together as members of the CMLF in the best interest of the 26 church and its communities. 27 Recognize, acknowledge and support all ladies and women in the church. 28 Create skills, development and training programmes to all CMLF members by: 29 Providing education, training and guidance in all areas of church life; and promoting activities that develop unity, 30 togetherness and strength for all ladies. 31 Build and maintain UBUNTU within the community of caring ladies. 32 Facilitate and support opportunities for leadership experiences in the church and in the CMLF. 33 Promote activities that result in harmonious working relationship. 34 Endeavour to establish a Christian Standard empowered by the Holy spirit among the CMLF family and the church 35 at large. 36 Enable growth in stewardship in the church. 37 MEMBERSHIP 38 The CMLF is an organization which is open to all ladies and women in church who wants to fellowship together. 39 To all women and ladies who are striving for unity, understanding of one another as children of God flourishing in 40 His Kingdom. 41 For all women and ladies who wish to reach their pathway unleashing their potential to do Gods work. 42 OFFICERS 43 The elected Officers of the Connectional CMLF and its Divisions shall be: 44 President 45 First Deputy President 46 Second Deputy President 47 Treasurer 48 Financial Secretary 49 Secretary 50 Assistant Secretary 51 Parliamentarian 52 Chaplain 53 Historiographer 54 Director of CMLF Activities 55 Public Relations Officer 56 IDENTITY 57 The colours of CMLF shall be Black and White 58 Need to consider seasons 59 CMLF members shall wear the following gear: 60 Black skirts 61 White shirt/Jacket 62 Black hat 63 Black shoes 64 Black stockings 65 Put on name pins displaying CMLF and own names on the left hand side. 66 OCCASIONS 67 CMLF members shall wear their identity on: 68 CMLF drives 69 Member funerals 70 Local church Holy Communion Service 71 Presiding Elders Quarterly Conference 72 Closing day of the District and Annual Conferences 73 On other official occasion, or when so directed by responsible officers of CMLF 74 PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS FOCUS 75 In line with the legacy of Charlotte Maxeke being the first female probationer, encouraging education to the 76 vulnerable groups and rendering support to women and children, the CMLF has planned the following: 77 In all Districts identify a childrens home for adoption through Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with the said 78 NGO/NPO for support with any means being required. 79 Commit our own professionals to draw a programme towards empowerment of women and youth in our different 80 Districts addressing emotional and social needs. And should be an ongoing programme. 81 Build a relationship with the correctional centre for rejected children to reintegrate them in the community and 82 unify them with their families. Bill Number Title Congregational Rights and Pastoral Evaluation Submitted by Bishop John Hurst Adams and Bishop A. J. Richardson Contact [email protected] Page Reference in Current AME Discipline The Book of Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2008, Pages91-104, Sections VI-VIII Intent To establish a starting point for evaluating the variety of leadership roles of pastors, to the end that pastors will be encouraged to perform at their optimal best, serving conscientiously, effectively, being held accountable to the denomination and the congregations being served. Rationale The Church is both organism and organization. It is spiritual; it is business. This blend, at the core our our being, requires checks and balances to insure pastoral and congregational effectiveness to be among the highest priorities and ideals to which Christians aspire. The evaluation that calls pastors to account for leading effectively must be related to a biblical standard of excellence, the of the shepherds heart as well as the best-practice expectations of the people who desire to see the congregation in which they worship and work grow and flourish in peace and love in Christ. The Book of Discipline has from the beginning provided a standard of pastoral performance and expectations, but does not provide a mechanism by which the pastor is actually interviewed, challenged for ways to grow and improve in certain areas. Pastors have only been evaluated informally on the basis doing what is required for the Conference (i.e. paying the budget), and a vote of confidence (or not) in the Fourth Quarterly Conference, but rarely a question of competence. Perhaps a pre-conference letter of support to the bishop. This initiative brings balance to the decades old Pastors Bill of Rights. Bishops are evaluated by the Episcopal Committee 1 Current Text 2 The Book of Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2008, Pages91-104, Sections VI-VIII 3 Amended Text 4 INSERT NEW SECTION IX IN SEQUENCE FOLLOWING SECTION VI - THE ITINERANT MINISTRY; SECTION VII THE 5 MINISTERS BILL OF RIGHTS; SECTION VIII MINISTERIAL SUPPORT. 6 BEGIN NEW SECTION 7 IX. EVALUATION OF PASTORS 8 Pastors shall be evaluated twice per year in each local congregation of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. 9 Purpose 10 Organizational structures require routine evaluations at the executive levels of management: holding everyone 11 accountable, to develop quality leadership, to engage in best practices, risk-taking, and innovation in order to 12 determine the structural health of the organization. It is a necessary process for establishing benchmarks for 13 improvement in the leader and in the organization being led.